Various Fields of Biology

Molecular Level of Organization

BIOCHEMISTRY
Kemi/chemeia (Gk): alchemy GENETIC ENGINEERING
Study of chemical substances occurring in living Genos (Gk): kin; engignier (Fr): contrive
organisms and their reactions The deliberate changing of the genetic makeup of living
cells by transferring a fragment of DNA from one
BIOENERGETICS organism to another
Energos (Gk): active
Biology of energy transformations & exchanges within & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
between living things & their environment Mole (Gk): mass; structure
Deals with the ultimate physicochemical organization of
GENETICS (molecular  populations) living matter, esp. with the molecular basis of
Genos (Gk): race/kin inheritance & protein synthesis
Study of hereditary factors from parents to offspring in
living organisms

Cellular Level of Organization

BACTERIOLOGY
Bakterion (Gk): small staff/stick MICROBIOLOGY
Study of bacteria and their effect on organisms Micros (Gk): small; bios: life
Concerned with microorganisms such as protists,
CYTOLOGY bacteria, viruses, & parasites
Zyto (German)/ kytos (Gk): hollow vessel
Study of cells and their processes

Tissues, Organs and Systems

ANATOMY
Ana (Gk): up; temnien (Gk) to cut up MORPHOLOGY
Deals with the structure of living things and the Morphe (Gk): form
interrelationship of parts Investigation of external anatomical structures/form

Comparative ANATOMY ORGANOLOGY

Ana (Gk): up; temnien (Gk) to cut up Organon (Gk): tool/instrument
Comparison of similar body structures in different kinds Study of organs & their function
of animals
PHYSIOLOGY
EMBRYOLOGY Physis (Gk): nature
Embryon (Gk) to swell inside Deals with functions & life processes in organisms
Concerned with the early stages in the development of
an animal form COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Physis (Gk): nature
HISTOLOGY Comparison of function and life processes in different
Histo (Gk): loom/web kinds of animals
Microscopic study of tissue structure
 Organisms and Populations

ETHOLOGY CONCHOLOGY
Ethos (Gk): nature/character Konche (Gk): shell
Study of animal behavior Study of mollusks and their shell structures

MYCOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY
Mykes (Gk): fungi Entomon (Gk): insect
Study of fungi Study of insects and their life cycles

PARASITOLOGY HELMINTHOLOGY
Para: akin to; sitos (Gk): grain Helmis (Gk): worm
Study of organisms that live on or within other plants or Study of worms, especially those that are parasitic
animals

BOTANY HERPETOLOGY
Botanikos (Gk): herbs/pasture Herpeton (Gk): animal that creeps
The study of plants Herpetos: serpent
Study of reptiles and amphibians
DENDROLOGY
Dendron (Gk): tree ICHTHYOLOGY
Concerned with trees and their history Ichthys (Gk): fish
Study of fish, including their classification and
ZOOLOGY conservation
Zoe (Gk): life/quick/mobile
Study of animals MAMMALOGY
Mamma (L): breast
ARACHNOLOGY Study of mammals
Arachne (Gk): spider
Study of spiders and scorpions ORNITHOLOGY
Ornis (Gk): bird
Study of birds and their behavior, economic importance

Communities and Ecosystems

ECOLOGY MARINE BIOLOGY
Oikos (Gk): home; logus: study Mare (L): sea
Deals with organisms & their relationships with each Study of the oceans and the ecosystems within them
other & the environment
SYNECOLOGY
LIMNOLOGY Syn (L): together; oikos (Gk): home
Limne (Gk): pool/marshy lake Structure, distribution, development of ecological
Study of the freshwater ecosystem communities
 Applied Biology

AGRICULTURE - Ager (L): field; cultus (L): till
Utilizes principles of botany in growing food
plants/crops
APICULTURE - Apis (L): bee
Specialty of keeping bees & harvesting beehive
products
POMOLOGY - Pomum (Gk): fruit
Deals with cultivation of fruits & trees
TAXIDERMY
Taxis (Gk) arrangement; Derma (Gk) skin
The art of preparing, stuffing and mounting the skins of
animals, esp. vertebrates

FORESTRY - foris (L): outside TAXONOMY

Establishment and conservation of trees and shrubs, the Taxis (Gk): group/arrangement; nomos (Gk): manage
forest ecosystem Science of identifying and classifying organisms

HYDROPONICS - Hydro (Gk): water VETERINARY MEDICINE

Involves growth and culture of plants that have their Veterina (L) – beasts of burden
roots in a solution of chemicals rather than soil Involved with animal care and feeding, prevention and
cure of animal diseases
PHYTOPATHOLOGY
Phyton (Gk): bring forth/sprout; WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Penthos/ pathos: suffering Deals with the conservation and maintenance of wildlife
Deals with plant diseases resources

INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES

ANTHROPOLOGY BIOPHYSICS
Andr- (Gk): man; ops (Gk): face Physikos (Gk): natural science
Study of man in relation to distribution, origin, Applies physical principles and methods in biological
classification & relationships of races, physical problems
character, environment & social relations, & culture.

ASTROBIOLOGY
Astron (Gk): star; bios (Gk): life BIOTECHNOLOGY
Studies ecological conditions for life on other planets Techne (Gk): art, craft, skill
Application of biology in other fields such as
BIOENGINEERING engineering systems & processes
Engignier (Fr): contrive
Application of biology/medical science in engineering GEOBOTANY
principles or equipment (i.e. artificial organ) Geo (Gk): land; botanikos: herbs
Combined science that seeks to locate mineral
BIOGEOGRAPHY resources in terms of the kinds of plants growing on top
Geo (Gk): land; graphos (GK): written of them.
Deals with the geographical distribution of organisms
(plants, animals, etc.) PALEONTOLOGY
Palaios (Gk): old; botanikos: herb
Study of fossilized plants

Prepared by M. Cardenas | Biology Unit